A LORRY has burst into flames near a busy roundabout.

The HGV caught fire on the slip road between the A406 north circular and the Billet Roundabout in Walthamstow at 1.20pm.

Wendy Douglas, 38, of Hylands Road, Walthamstow, was in her car on the A406 when she witnessed the blaze.

She said: “I saw black smoke rising to 50ft in the air, the lorry was well ablaze.

“I heard popping sounds coming from the lorry, and inside it I saw what looked like bottles of red wine.”

A witness said the whole vehicle was consumed by flames, giving of large plumes of black smoke.

Only an empty shell of the vehicle remains, which is still being doused down by firefighters.

It is not known whether the driver escaped before the lorry burst into flames, or whether anyone was injured.

One lane of the north circular remains closed in a westbound direction due to smoke.

The slip road also remains closed, meaning surrounding areas, particularly Highams Park are gridlocked as motorists take alternative routes.

Traffic has ground to a halt in the surrounding area as people leave their vehicles to watch the drama unfold.

An ambulance and ambulance car were sent to the scene, but nobody required treatment.